Dungeons & Dragons has been an overwhelmingly popular tabletop role-playing game since its creation in the 1970s, and the franchise is only increasing with new products and mediums, including Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. In the midst of the movie's praise, the company launched a new game for players to explore.

D&D's new browser game, Before the Storm, is a text-based, choose-your-own-adventure style game perfect for new players (and veterans just looking for something new). With the popularity of Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves only getting stronger, the gaming community is bound to see a plethora of new players looking to try the TTRPG for themselves, but not everyone has the resources to learn to play on their own. Luckily, D&D has answered the call with Before the Storm, offering new players a fun, free way to learn.

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Before the Storm Caters to New and Unexperienced Players

Starting screen for D&D Beyond's Before the Storm

Before the Storm's introduction sets new players up for success by defining basic D&D terms such as "Dungeon Master" and explaining the game's basic concept. From there, players are launched into the story, albeit in bite-sized snippets. One of the ways that Before the Storm is suitable for both new and veteran players is that there are multiple options on how to proceed, depending on if players need additional information about the world. For example, players can choose to meet their hero or learn more about Neverwinter after being briefly introduced to the location.

The amount of race and class options in D&D can be understandingly overwhelming for new players, so Before the Storm introduces the classes to players gradually, letting them read about each one before committing. While veteran players may be disappointed with only five basic options (Cleric, Rogue, Fighter, Wizard, or Paladin) and that races are chosen for them, new players can easily explore the variety without becoming confused. There is even an "I don't know" option when players are asked to pick a class, and those who are unsure are treated to an array of questions that help guide them toward the class that would suit them best.

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Before the Storm Is the Perfect Introduction to Dungeons & Dragons

A screenshot from D&D Beyond the Storm showing the Cleric class

Dungeons & Dragons is known for its rich storytelling and player antics, and Before the Storm offers both. Right off the bat, players are immersed in the world of Neverwinter, but not in such a way as to be overwhelming for newcomers. The story unravels piece by piece at the player's pace.

New players may find themselves stumped when facing seemingly endless options, but luckily Before the Storm keeps this in mind, narrowing the number of options given to players. Hints on how to guide the story forward are made to stand out in red font. In a way, players are even able to learn the basics of being a Dungeon Master, as with each option they're given, they also see which of their traits applies and how much of an advantage they provide. It is made clear that the better the ability modifier, the more likely they are to succeed.

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Another way Before the Storm helps bring the Dungeons & Dragons experience to life is by providing virtual dice that players can roll to see if their actions succeed or fail. This effectively teaches players the game's basic mechanics and how their ability modifiers are used. Players are also treated to some light combat, in which they are carefully walked through each step and can see how the turn-based system works. The game even shows when the DM would normally roll to determine the actions of the player's enemies.

At the end of the short adventure, players are presented with stats of which they can be proud. They're given an overview of their chosen class, what they achieved in the game and even the amount of hit points with which they survived (or did not survive). Should they wish to do better, players can always start a new adventure, and with their newfound understanding of the game, it will surely be grand.